A pharmaceutical company has initiated a recall for one lot of antidepressant medication after discovering packaging errors in certain tablet boxes.

Amarox Limited is issuing the recall following an incident where an individual was prescribed Sertraline 100mg tablets but received a pack containing Citalopram 40mg tablets instead.

Both drugs belong to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class and are prescribed for depression and anxiety disorders, though consuming the incorrect medication may result in unintended adverse reactions.

Dr Alison Cave, who serves as chief safety officer at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, stated: “If you have been prescribed Sertraline 100mg tablets and your packaging shows batch number V2500425, please verify the contents match what you were prescribed.

The batch number and expiration date appear on the side panel of the external carton.

Should the blister strips inside show Citalopram 40mg labeling, please reach out to your pharmacy promptly.

If the strips are labelled Sertraline 100mg, no additional steps are required.

Individuals who have inadvertently taken citalopram in place of—or alongside—sertraline may experience amplified serotonergic effects.

These may encompass nausea, headaches, alterations in sleep patterns, and mild nervousness.”

Both medications originate from the same manufacturer at the same production facility, with the mistake apparently happening during the secondary packaging phase when blister strips were being placed into cartons.

The regulatory agency is requesting that pharmacists and other healthcare workers identify any patients who may have received medication from this specific batch and reach out to them.

Those patients should be instructed to return any unused product and speak with their general practitioner or treating clinician about whether a new prescription is necessary.

Medical practitioners should also consider monitoring patients, particularly those under 18 years old, over 65, or with pre-existing cardiac or hepatic conditions.

Any adverse events should be submitted via the MHRA Yellow Card system.

Healthcare providers have been directed to cease distribution of this batch and send all remaining inventory back to their suppliers.